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www.oakvillebeaver.com · OAKVILLE BEAVER Friday, July 16, 2010 · 22 College teaches hairstyling and philanthropy By Melanie Cummings SPECIAL TO THE BEAVER A haircut is a lifeline for recipients and stylists alike in the community. Over the past decade Jamie Brown, who is director of the Oakville College Careers & Academics Inc., has witnessed the lifechanging impacts on both sides of the chair: · The seniors, for example, into whose nursing homes her students head twice a week, to offer free haircuts in exchange for the hours they need to earn before becoming licenced tradespeople. · Or the homeless person living at the Lighthouse Shelter, who could use the salon's myriad services to improve his or her image on the job-hunting trail. · Or the single-mom struggling on a fixed income, who craves the rare luxury of a little me-time with a pedicure. These are the stories of the clients. There are just as many among the would-be stylists and aestheticians. The college's students come from many perspectives, socioeconomic backgrounds and experiences. They are newly graduated from high school or others seeking a second career. Some are former elementary school teachers, interior designers, accountants and sales people looking for a creative outlet and who enjoy working one-on-one with people and with their hands. Currently the oldest student at the Speers Road school is 58. Some are teens, and some are new Canadians. But they all share the goal of becoming independent income earners. "You can go anywhere in the world with a hair design certificate," said Brown, who earned her licence in England and worked in salons for 15 years before changing tack and heading to teacher's college for her technical certificate at age 33. She taught at public and Catholic high schools in Halton, Dufferin, Waterloo and Peel before taking on the directorship at the private college. "You're never too old to learn," is her motto. Students are required to accumulate 1,500 hours in class and following graduation must put in 2,000 more before writing MICHELLE SIU / OAKVILLE BEAVER PRACTICE MAKES PERFECT: Anthony Brown styles Ali Cook's hair at Oakville College. In addition to styling hair at the college, students accumulate their 1,500 hours of hair styling by offering free hair cuts to seniors in nursing homes and people in homeless shelters. that culminating licence. As with any craft, practice makes perfect and this is where Brown pushes her philanthropic agenda. Through community service she is helping her students reach their requirements and gain practical knowledge, while giving as many people as possible access to excellent services at a price that's affordable for those who can pay it and free for others on a fixed income. "We're definitely here to help," Brown said. "It's more rewarding this way." But she's quick to credit the community, the paying customers like Amy Kalinowski, who help subsidize the much-needed freebies. The local realtor has been going to the school's in-house salon for seven years and claims she has never had a bad hair day as a result. A broken arm that made it difficult for Kalinowski to wash and style her hair on her own first brought her into the teaching salon twice a week. She continues to keep regular appointments because the caliber of the stylists is exceptional, she added. "I am very impressed with the kind and heartfelt service that the school has given to the elderly and to new students who are not able to afford to pay for a private school to learn a trade," said Kalinowski. She's eager to do her part as well, by setting up a scholarship fund for such financially strapped students through donations from local businesses; as well as create a transport service of volunteer drivers willing to deliver clients to the in-school salon. Volunteers and donors can contact Kalinowksi at 416-996-2895 or e-mail ja.kal@bell.net. To make an appointment at the Oakville College at 1098 Speers Rd., call 905-3382336.